Police directed to file case against actress Ramya for remarks on RSS

In fresh trouble for Kannada actress and former MP Ramya, a local court has directed the police to file a criminal case against her for her recent reported remarks that the RSS had colluded with the British.

Police commissioner N Chandrasekhar escorts Kannada actor and Congress member Ramya, who is accused of sedition over her Pakistan comments, as she comes out of a hotel in Mangaluru.(PTI File Photo)

In fresh trouble for Kannada actress and former MP Ramya, a local court has directed the police to file a criminal case against her for her recent reported remarks that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had colluded with the British.

The direction by the court at Belthangady near here comes on a private petition filed by advocate Vasanth Marakada, who moved it after the police refused to register his complaint against Ramya, already facing a complaint in another court for alleged sedition.

The advocate said Ramya might be summoned to record her version after he (complainant) records his statement.

Ramya, who was elected to Lok Sabha from Mandya in the 2013 by-election on a Congress ticket, had reportedly said that the RSS had colluded with the British during the nation’s struggle for independence. The 33-year-old multilingual actress is already facing a complaint in a court in Kodagu district on sedition and other charges.

After a recent visit to Islamabad as part of a Saarc delegation of young lawmakers, Ramya had reportedly said at a meeting in Mandya, “Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well.”

Her remarks had come as an apparent counter to comments of defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who while lashing out at Islamabad for promoting terror, had said, “Going to Pakistan is same as going to hell.”

Ramya’s comments had triggered a bitter backlash but she stood her ground, saying she would not apologise.

An advocate had filed a complaint in a court at Somwarpet in Kodagu district, seeking action on sedition and other charges against Ramya for “insulting Indian patriots” by her remarks.

Advocate K Vittala Gowda filed the complaint before the Somwarpet Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court, which has admitted it. The complaint has sought a direction to police to book Ramya under IPC sections 124(a)(sedition), 344 (wrongful confinement for ten or more days) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment).